Newly required boating safety course held in Ossining

New legislation says that boating safety courses are now a requirement for boaters born after 1996.

A Hudson Valley family affected by a boating accident joined forces with state Sen. David Carlucci to push for boating safety changes.

In 2012, 26-year-old Bryan Johnson drowned after a boating accident with his friends. It was that accident that made Carlucci realize boating safety needed to

be a priority.

"May be if they had known this and had these courses, Bryan would still be alive,” says Bryan’s mom, Thomasina.

The Boating Club of Westchester will be giving five scholarships yearly so that others can take the course for free in honor of Bryan Johnson.

"This is something we know dramatically reduces fatalities and injuries, unfortunately 655 people lost lives last year,” said Sen. Carlucci. “The more people we get educated the more people we can save.”